Buckle



z- 1942. w. ROSENTH'AL 2,293,562

BUCKLE Filed Jan. 11, 1940 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM ROSENTHALff BY HIS ATTORN Aug. 18, 1942. w. ROSENTHAL I 2,293,562

BUCKLE Filed Jan. 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM ROSENTHALPatented Aug. 18, 1942 BUCKLE William Rosenthal, New York, N. Y., assinor to Maiden Form Brassiere Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application January 11, 1940, Serial No. 313,331

15 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to buckles.

One of the objects of this invention is the creation of buckle or strapfastening constructions of such character that straps may be readilyengaged therewith and, when engaged, the effective length of such strapsmay be readily and easily adjusted, as desired, and, when adjusted,fixedly maintained.

Another object of this invention is the creation of buckle or strapfastening constructions of the foregoing character and which areprovided with means whereby they may be also readily and easilyinterengaged with other elements such as strap loops, or the like.

Another object of this invention is the creation of buckle or strapfastening constructions which, while well calculated to attain theforegoing objects, are strong and durable, as well as economical andeasy to make and use in quantity and generally embody the advantageousfeatures hereinafter more fully disclosed.

These and many other objects are secured by the constructions hereindisclosed. Various other objects and advantages of the invention thanthose hereinabove specifically mentioned will appear more fullyhereinafter. It is to be understood that the specific forms shown aremerely illustrative and hence the detailed description thereof is not tobe taken as limiting the invention itself.

This invention resides substantially in the parts as well as in thecombination, construction,

arrangement and relative location of parts, all as will appear morefully hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are usedthroughout the several views to indicate the same or similar parts, itwill be found that:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the buckle of Fig. 1 taken along thesection line 2 2, in said figure, looking in the direction of thearrows, and shown with a strap threaded through said buckle about themiddle full bar thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle of Fig. 1, with a strap fullythreaded therethrough and engaged therewith, said buckle being shownabout a buckle of my to be engaged with a separate garment strap loopwhich is perspectively shown secured to a portion of a garment;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of said buckle, strap, garment straploop and garment portion, after e gagement has been effected;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the section line 55 in Fig. 4,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 3 shownwith a part of the strap not engaged with the buckle and in conditionfor the making of adjustment in the effective length of the strap;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. l but of a bucklewhich is a possible variant and modified embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a strap first being inserted into aslot of the buckle of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the strap engaged about the middlefull bar of the buckle of Fig. '7 and with part thereof about to beswung up to and engaged with the upper part of said buckle;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view similar to the view of Fig. 3 except thatthe buckle shown is that of Fig. 7 instead of that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view similar to that of l but of a buckle whichis a second possible variant and modified embodiment of my invention;and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. l but of a bucklewhich is a third possible variant and modified embodiment of myinvention.

It will be observed that each of the hereinafter disclosed buckles is soconstructed that adjustment may be readily made in the effective lengthof a strap secured thereto, and said buckles are provided with meanswhereby, at will, each may be readily engaged with or disengaged from astrap loop, or the like.

Buckles of this character are generally of advantage in the wearingapparel arts and are peculiarly of value for use on and in connectionwith womens undergarments which are supplied with one or more'straps.Since the hereinafter disclosed buckle constructions are susceptible ofmany uses, the herein disclosed particular instances and manner ofutilization of such buckles should be considered as illustrative and inno sense as limiting.

Thus, by way of a specific illustration, women frequently find itnecessary and/or desirable to make adjustment in the effective length ofthe shoulder straps of their brassieres so as to suitably vary thetension and breast uplift provided thereby, as well as to disengage andopen a shoulder strap, as desired. Indeed, While this is of advantage ingarment shoulder strap constructions generally, it is particularly ofvalue in brassiere shoulder strap constructions and especially so in thecase of nursing brassieres, such for example, as that shown in U. S.Letters Patent No. 1,979,576, granted: November 6, 1934 where, interalia, I disclosed certain shoulder straps the effective length of whichmight be varied, and which straps, when desired, might be opened anddisengaged from the garment pockets.

A particularly advantageous feature of the buckles hereinafter disclosedwill be found to reside in the fact that each of them preferablycomprises an integral body which may be readily formed into the desiredconfiguration by processes such as stamping, casting, molding, or thelike, depending upon the body material employed.

In the case of brassire shoulder strap constructions I have found thatsuitable buckles constructed in accordance with the principles of myinvention may be produced bystamp-ing the same out of a suitable metalsuch as brass, or the like and thereafter providing the stampings withsuitable coating of enamel, or the like. It should be understood that Imake reference to this only by way of illustration; and since, as willbe readily realized, various different materials could be employed inthe fabrication of buckles of xnyinvention, Iclo not intend that myinvention be in any wise limited to the use of any particular materialor materials.

Moreover, although I have found it preferable that each of these bucklesbe made in :a single integral body, it however will be understood that,

if desirable, each buckle could be made in a suitable number of separatepieces and suitably assembled and united.

Turning now to the drawings, it will be observed that inFig. 1, there isshown at I, one form of buckle constructed in accordance with theprinciples of my invention.

This buckle I is preferably a single piece composed of four transversebars, 2, 3, 4 and 5, suitably spaced apart from each other between twospaced side bars, 6 and I. This arrangement provides three intermediatetransverse slots, namely, slot 3, lying between bars 2 and 3, slot 9,lying between bars 3 and 4, and slot IE1, lying between bars 4 and 5.

A central opening II, into slot I is provided in the'upp-er transversebar 5, said opening dividing said bar into two spaced apart portions, towit, a left portion 5a and a right portion 57!); and, adjacent theopening II, the opposed ends of 5a and 5b preferably are conveXlyrounded to .provide a smooth entrance into slot I0. Preferablysubstantially at the upper left hand corner of slot .8, side bar 6 isprovided with an opening I2 into said slot 8, and the opposed walls ofsaid opening I2 preferably are also convexly rounded to provide a smoothentrance into said slot.

Buckle I, is preferably attached to a strap I3 having a'free end portionI3a by a threading of said free end portion Ifa through the slot 9 aboutthe bar 3 and back through the slot 8. The body I3b of the strap I3 isthen momentarily twisted, crumpled, compressed, folded or otherwisesuitably manipulated to introduce it through the opening II and into theslot it where said body I3!) is released; and buckle I and strap I3 arethen in condition shown in Fig. 6. Buckle I is then slid along strap I3until the desired effective strap length is reached, whereat the freeend I3a of strap I3 also is introduced through opening I I into 5101;III in alike manner.

When thus arranged, strap It (proceeding along the length thereof to thefree end thereof) extends downwardly towards the rear of buckle I andruns through slot II! of said buckle from the rear to the front thereof,thence downwardly against the front face of bar 4, thence through slot 9of said buckle from the front to the rear thereof, thence downwardlyagainst the rear face of bar 3, thence through slot 8 of said bucklefrom the rear to the front thereof, thence upwardly against the frontface of bar 3, upwardly across (but not through) slot 9 and upwardlyagainst the outermost side of the fabric lying against the front face ofbar 4, thence, following said fabric, through slot II) of said bucklefrom the front to the rear thereof, thence upwardly against the rearface of the bar portions 5a and 5b and thence upwardly from the buckle;all as is :clearly illustrated in the fully threaded buckles shown inFigs. 3, 4; and 5.

By this arrangement, it will be observed that the strap I3 at thelowermost portion thereof is looped about the bar 3 whereat it isreversely directed and two thicknesses of the fabric of said strap lieagainst the front face only of bar 4 while two thicknesses of the fabricof said strap lie against the rear face only of bar portions to and 5b,with the result that the strap I3 is firmly interlaced with and'upon thebars 3, 4 and 5 of buckle I and accordingly said buckle is thereuponeifectively locked and fixedly held against movement along the length ofsaid strap at appropriate position thereon.

Subsequent tension in a direction away from the buckle on either freeend portion I3a or body portion I31) of strap I3 thereupon tends toincrease the locking and holding effect due to such ten sion pressingand bringing the interlaced parts or said strap into increasedengagement with the respective bars, i. e., by a drawing taut ofthe-interlacing upon the aforementioned buckle bars.

At this point it will be realized that, if desired, strap I3 might beengaged with the buckl I by causing the free end of said strap to firstenter through the slot ID from the rear of the buckle and thereafterpulling said strap through said slot and threading the free end of thestrap about the bars and through the slots of the buckle in the orderjust hereinbefore mentioned rather than by engaging said strap, in thefirst instance, about the bar 3 and thereafter causing the body portionI31) and the free end portion 13a to enter into the slot II! through theopening II in the fashion hereinbefore first mentioned.

Since, however, either ofthetwo mentioned manners of engaging the strapI3 with the mentioned bars of buckle I will produce the same ultimatethreaded condition, the user, of course, may optionally choose the onewhich is most convenient and/or desirable; but irrespective of whichmanner the user chooses, adjustment of effective strap length ispreferably to be made before the free end portion I3a is folded back andcaused to enter the slot Ill through the opening II, i. e., when thebuckle and strap are in the condition shown therefor in Fig. 6.

While I have thus described certain manners whereby strap I3 might bethreaded through the buckle I to produce a given ultimate threadedarrangement of said strap upon said buckle, it should at this point berealized that the fashion in which a strap might be engaged with mybuckle is by no means limited to the particular manners of threading andthe ultimate threaded condition which I have specifically mentioned.Thus, if desired, the free end portion Iita of strap. I3 couldconveniently be arranged to lie behind, instead of in front of, the bodyportion I3b of such strap. Furthermore, by a reversal of the directionin which said strap is threaded through the respective slots and aboutthe respective bars, the ultimate threaded arrangement might be madesuch that the strap, while still looped about the bar 3, would be soarranged that two thicknesses of the fabric of the strap would lieagainst the rear face only of bar 4 (instead of the front face onlythereof) and two thicknesses of the fabric of said strap would lieagainst the front face only of bar portions a and 5b (instead of therear face only of such bar portions). This could be readily accomplishedby having the portions I30; and I 31) extend away from the buckle, inthe first instance, to the left thereof instead of to the right thereofas shown in Fig. 2, or assuming that the user will choose to commencethreading by inserting the free end of the strap into the slot I!) then,in the first instance, by having such free end enter the slot I9 fromthe front instead of from the rear of the buckle followed by a threading of such strap through the slots and about the bars in a fashionwhich, in each instance, is the reverse of that hereinbefore described.

Going still further it should be understood that the hereincontainedterms and expressions of direction and position (e. g., upwardly,downwardly, front, rear, etc.) are employed for purposes of relativedescription and not of limitation in order to clearly describe myinvention relative to the particular illustration thereof shown in thedrawings, and, that the buckle construction which I disclose may bethreaded in suitable fashion irrespective of which face of the buckle isforwardly directed and irrespective of the particular position in whichsaid buckle be held when the strap is interlaced with the bars thereof,provided, of course, that the direction of the run of the strap uponthreading will suitably accord to the particular position of the buckleat the time of threading and the arrangement desired by the user.

Moreover, since as hereinbefore pointed out my buckle constructions aresuch that they are susceptible of many uses and the manner of threadingand the threaded arrangement thereof may be readily varied, as desired,the hereinbefore described particular instances and manner ofutilization of such buckles should be considered as illustrative and notas limiting.

Having thus described the manner in which strap I3 is threaded upon,what in Figs. 1-6, inclusive, is the upper part of my buckle I, I willnow proceed to a description of the fashion in which the lower part ofsaid buckle is employed.

Thus, when completely threaded upon strap It and fixedly held atappropriate position along the length thereof the buckle and strap arein the condition shown therefor in Fig. 3 of the drawings and the bucklethus attached to the adjusted strap may then be interengaged with astrap loop I4 which is suitably secured to a portion I5 of a garment orotherwise appropriately provided, by an introduction of the lower bar 2of buckle i into and through the loop Id, in the direction of the arrowillustrated in Fig. 3, whereupon the loop I4 enters into the slot 8through the opening I2 and rests upon the bottom of slot 8 and about thebar 2.

Due to the fact that the opening I2, as hereinbefore stated, is providedpreferably at the upper left hand corner of the slot 8, a portion 6a ofthe side bar 6 remains upstanding from the bar 2 and in conjunction withsaid bar effectively provides a hook-like member at the bottom of buckleI; said portion Ga acting as an abutment for the left hand side of theloop I4 to prevent accidental disengagement of the strap loop I4 fromoff of the lower bar 2 of buckle I once engagement thereof has beeneffected. Moreover, portion 6a and that portion of side bar Iimmediately upstanding from lower bar 2 provide side guards limitingsidewise displacement of the loop I4 when once the same rests at thebottom of the "slot 8 and about the bar 2.

The height of portion 5a and the length of loop I4 are relativelysuitably proportioned so that, as desired, the bar 2 carrying therewiththe portion Ea may be readily introduced into, passed through, orwithdrawn from the loop I4.

Since in use there will always be some tension upon the strap I 3, theloop I4 will always rest about the bar 2 at the bottom of the slot 8 andwhen disengagement is desired the buckle I and the loop I4 arerelatively manipulated against the action of such tension until suchloop may exit from the slot 8 through the opening I2, said manipulationinvolving either a lowering of the buckle I, a raising of the loop I4,or both.

When the buckle with the strap suitably threaded therethrough is in acondition where it is completely interengaged with the strap loop M,said elements are respectively in the relative positions shown thereforin Figs. 4 and 5.

Next, it should be understood that while I have hereinbefore describedin a particular order the operations involved in arranging for aparticular effective strap length and a uniting of my buckle with astrap loop, the particular sequence of steps, in the specific orderthereof hereinbefore adopted for purposes of description, need notnecessarily be followed, and, indeed, in actual practice, often may notbe followed. Thus, when a user would first adjust a garment providedwith my buckle, strap and loop to the body, such user probably wouldfirst engage the lower bar 2 of the buckle I with the loop I4 and,having the buckle thereby fixed in position, would then manipulate thefree end portion I3a of the strap I3 until a suitable effective straplength was provided, whereupon the user would fold the free end I3a backand introduce the same into the slot I0 through the opening II to efiecta locking action of the described character of the buckle I at thechosen position along the length of strap I3. Thereafter, such userwould know that having the proper effective strap length arranged for,engagement or disengagement of the buckle I and the loop I4 could beeffected at will without changing the position of the buckle along thelength of the strap. Indeed, having once adjusted for an effective straplength, the user, in the average case, would probably not desire to varythe adjustment except to meet particular conditions, such as, shrinkagein the fabric of the strap or other parts upon laundering, or the like,or to provide a change in the effective strap length to meet particularneeds and desires of the user.

From the foregoing, it is to be understood that the order of assemblyand adjustment of my strap, buckle and strap loop remains matter whichis entirely optional with the user and accordingly I am to be consideredas in no wise limited to the particular manner of operation which I havehereinbefore set forth for purposes of illustration.

Turning next to the possible variant and modified embodiment of myinvention which is illustrated in and by Figs. 7-10, inclusive, it willbe found that in said figures I show a buckle I6 which in constructionis in all respects the same as buckle l except that an additionalopening I! is provided through the right side bar I, said opening givingfree access to the slot 9 from the right. The opposed walls of openingll preferably are also convexly rounded to provide a smooth entranceinto the slot 9.

Buckle It being thus constructed provides a structure wherein strap [3instead of being first threaded through slot 9 about bar 3 and throughslot 8 as taught in and by Fig. 2 may, if desired, be formed in a loopas illustrated in Fig. 8 and slid into slot 9 in the direction of thearrow illustrated in Fig. 8 towards the side bar 6 and pressed againstthe side bar 6 sufficiently so that the free end portion I30, may clearthe rounded top of the portion 6a and be introduced through the openingl2 into the slot 8 and then released to assume the position thereforillustrated in Fig. 9.

At this point it will be observed that the relative position of thestrap 13 with respect to the buckle l perspectively shown in Fig. 9 issubstantially the same as that sectionally illustrated as the positionof the strap 13 with respect to the buckle I in Fig. 2; and that suchposition is attainable without the necessity of threading the strapfirst through slot 9 about the bar 3 and back through the slot 8.

It accordingly will be realized that with but a very small amount ofpractice a user of this embodiment can, without any threading, readilyand quickly learn how to effect looping of the strap l3 about the bar 3'by simple manual movement.

With this construction a particular user may, if preferable, also loopthe strap l3 about the bar 3 by threading. Thus, if desired, the strapl3 could, in this embodiment, be wholly threaded through the slot 9about the bar 3 and back through the slot 8 or slid into the slot 9 andthereafter threaded through the slot 8.

Accordingly it is apparent that buckle It is susceptible of differentmanners of use, and I, therefore, am not to be considered as limited tothe particular manners which I have herebefore mentioned by way ofillustration.

At this point it will be realized that this buckle l6 and those buckleshereinafter described are peculiarly of value in those circumstanceswhere it is desired to eliminate to a maximum the need for threading, asmay be the case when straps having fringed, frayed, unwieldy, orenlarged ends are employed, or in other appropriate cases.

When the buckle and strap are in the relative position thereforillustrated in Fig. 9 the body portion B2) of the strap may be swungupwardly in the direction of the arrow and appropriately introducedthrough the opening H into the slot Ill and the buckle and strap willthen be substantially in the same relative positions with respect toeach other as that illustrated in Fig. 6. Thereafter, a suitableeffective length of strap is arranged for and the portion I30. isintroduced through the opening ll into the slot I0 in fashion like thathereinbefore described in connection with the description of buckle Iand the ultimate condition of the buckle and strap is that illustratedtherefor in Fig. which is substantially the same as that illustrated forthe buckle I in Fig. 3, i. e., with said buckle locked at ap-' propriateposition along the length of the strap and in a position where the lowerbar 2 thereof is about to be introduced into the strap loop l4.

Turning next to the second possible variant and modified embodiment ofmy invention which is illustrated in and by Fig. 11, it will be foundthat in said figure I show a buckle l8 which in construction issubstantially the same as buckle l except that an additional opening I9is provided through the left side bar 6, said opening giving free accessto the slot 9 from the left.

The opposed walls of opening l9 preferably are also convexly rounded toprovide a smooth entrance into the slot 9 and this is preferablyattained in any suitable fashion, such for example, as by convexlyrounding the free left end of the bar 3 of this buckle.

Having thus described the construction of buckle l8, it will be readilyunderstood that the same may be used in a fashion substantially similarto that in which the buckle It is used except that the looped strap [3shown in Fig. 8 is slid into the slot 9 of buckle Hi from the leftinstead of from the right.

This buckle provides a construction having one fully solid buckle sideI, i. e., a buckle construction wherein all of the side openings are onone side at which side alone sliding engagements are effected, while allof the bars are mounted on the other fully solid buckle side 1.

It will here be readily understood that the rounded free end of the bar3 could be provided with a rounded knob-like portion, if desired, toprovide additional retaining action upon the strap when interlaced withthe bars of this buckle. However, since such strap is ultimately lockedand drawn taut upon insertion into the slot in through the opening II, Ido not believe that in the average case there will be much likelihood ofneed for providing the free end of bar 3 with a knob-like end. I,however, make mention of the same so that it will be understood that itis within my contemplation and same is within the scope of my inventionand may be used should any need therefor be presented.

With the foregoing explanation, the manner in which my buckle I8 is usedwill be readily understood.

Thus, it will be appreciated that a strap may be readily adjusted as toeffective length by means of such buckle and when suitably adjustedthereupon, the buckle may, at will, by means of its bar 2, be engagedwith and disengaged from a strap loop such as the strap loop I4herebefore described.

Turning next to the third possible variant and modified embodiment of myinvention which is illustrated in and by Fig. 12, it will be found thatin said figure I show a buckle 20 having, like the previous embodiments,four transverse bars, 2, 3, 4 and 5, appropriately separated by theslots, 8, 9 and Ill, but, however, with the upper bar 5 being solid andnot provided with any opening ll therein. The side I of this buckle likethe side I of the buckle I8, is also fully solid.-

This buckle has all of the openings in its side 6 that buckle [8 has andin addition thereto has an opening 2| in said side giving free access tothe slot I!) from the left.

The opposed walls of openings l2, l9 and 2|, in this embodimentpreferably are also convexly rounded to provide smooth entrance into therespective slots into which said respective openings give access. Sincein this embodiment all of the slots (and particularly slots 9 and ID)are open at the left side of the buckle, the opening 2| is preferablyconstricted by providing the top of the left free end of bar 4 and thebottom of the left free end of bar 5 with the opposed protuberances Ho.and Zlb, respectively, to provide an assured retainer against accidentaldisplacement of the strap I3 out of opening 2|, when once said strap hasbeen disposed within the slot I0 of this buckle. If desired, the bottomof the left free end of bar 4 can also be provided with a protuberancesubstantially like the protuberance 2Ia provided at the top of said leftfree end, and as heretofore explained in connection with the free end ofbar 3 of buckle I8, a knob-like p-rotuberance could be formed also, ifdesired, at the left free end of the bar 3 of buckle 20.

Having thus described the construction of buckle 2|], I now desire todescribe the manner in which the same will be used. Thus, the fabricstrap I3 is formed in a loop as shown in Fig. 8 and said loop is slidinto the slot 9 through the opening I9 and thereupon the body portionI3b of the strap I3 is caused to enter the slot I9 from the left sidethrough the opening 2| by a suitable manipulation thereof to the leftthrough said opening and into said slot. The buckle is then slid toappropriate position along the strap I3 and the free end portion I3a. ofsaid strap is also caused to enter the slot I6 through the opening 2| bya like manipulation so that it will be in an arrangement of interlacingupon the bars 3, 4 and 5, substantially the same as that shown for theinterlaced strap in Figs. 3 and 10.

The bar 2 in this construction is adapted to the same uses and purposesas the bar 2 of the embodiments previously described.

In this buckle construction all strap engagements are made on one sideof the buckle only and entrance to the slot I0 is by means of theopening in the side of the buckle through which straps may be slidrather than an opening in the top of the buckle through which straps arecompressed or otherwise manipulated into the slot Hi, and, accordingly,I believe that this buckle will be found to be peculiarly of advantagewhen the strap intended to be secured thereupon is of a relatively rigidmaterial which is not readily compressible and therefore difficult ofinsertion through an opening such as the opening H, such for example, asrelatively stiff elastic, relatively stiff leather, metallic cloths, orthe like.

I have found that the employment of devices constructed in accordancewith the principles of the invention herein disclosed by me, whenproperly adjusted, applied and used, provide the effects and conditionshereinbefore mentioned as desirable.

The terms and expressions which have been herein employed, are used asterms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention,in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents ofthe devices shown and described or portions thereof.

Indeed, it will be obvious from the foregoing that the invention I haveherein disclosed incorporates many features which are possible ofgeneral adaptation. Furthermore, it is conceivable that materials andarrangements other than those which I have mentioned as preferable,might be employed in place of those I have mentioned, with equal result.

Still further, I am, of course, aware that many changes in the detailsof construction and relative arrangement of parts will readily suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art and that various modificationsare possible within the scope of my invention as herein claimed.

Accordingly, I do not therefore desire to be limited to the exactdetails herein set forth by way of illustration but rather to the spiritand scope of my invention as I define it in the appended claims.

What I seek to secure States Letters Patent is:

l. A buckle of the type described consisting of a member having two sidebars four spaced apart transverse bars all lying substantially in thesame general plane providing therebetween an uppermost slot, anintermediate slot and a lowermost slot, said buckle having a firstopening through the body thereof giving access to the uppermcst slot anda second opening through a side bar thereof adjacent the top of thelowermost slot of said buckle and giving side access to said lowermostslot; said second opening leaving a lower portion of the side bar,through which it opens, upstanding from the lowermost transverse bar ofthe buckle, which lower portion has a rounded upper free end, is in linewith the upper portion of said side bar, and is adapted to by and claimfor United act as an abutment.

2. The structure recited in claim 1 characterized in that the firstmentioned opening is formed in the top of the buckle and gives access tothe uppermost slot from above.

3. The structure recited in claim 1 characterized in that the firstmentioned opening is formed through the body of said buckle on a sidethereof adjacent the top and gives side access to the uppermost slot.

4. The structure recited in claim 1 characterized in that the firstmentioned opening is formed through the body of said buckle on the sameside thereof as is formed the second mentioned opening but adjacent thetop instead of adjacent the bottom of said buckle and gives side accessto the uppermost slot.

5. A buckle of the type described consisting of a member having fourspaced apart bars providing therebetween an uppermost slot, anintermediate slot and a lowermost slot, said buckle having a firstopening through the body thereof giving access to the uppermost slot, asecond opening through the body of the buckle on a side thereof givingside access to the intermediate slot and a third opening on a sideadjacent the bottom of said buckle giving side access to the lowermostof said slots; said structure being characterized in that the opposedwalls of each opening are convexly rounded to provide smooth entrance tothe slot into which it opens.

6. The structure recited in claim 5 further characterized in that thefirst mentioned opening is formed in the top of the buckle and givesaccess to the uppermost slot from above.

7. The structure recited in claim 5 further characterized in that thefirst mentioned opening is formed through the body of said buckle on aside thereof adjacent the top and gives side access to the uppermostslot.

8. The structure recited in claim 5 further characterized in that thefirst mentioned opening is formed in the top of the buckle and givesaccess to the uppermost slot from above and that the second and thirdmentioned openings ar on the same side of the buckle.

9. The structure recited in claim 5 further characterized in that thefirst mentioned opening is formed in the top of the buckle and givesaccess to the uppermost slot from above and that the Second and thirdmentioned openings are on opposite sides of the buckle.

10. The structure recited in claim further characterized in that all ofthe mentioned openings are on asingle side of the buckle.

11. A buckle of the type described consisting of a member having fourspaced apart bars providing therebetween an open uppermost slot, aclosed intermediate slot and a lowermost slot, said buckle having anopening in the top of the body thereof giving access to the uppermostslot from above and a second opening in a Side of the body near thebottom thereof giving side access to the lowermost slot.

12. In a buckle adapted to cooperation with a formed strap loop and astrap, the effective length of which is to be adjusted, a membercomprising two side bars and four spaced apart transverse bars providingtherebetween an uppermost slot, an intermediate slot and a lowermostslot, said member being provided, at the top, with a central openingdividing the uppermost transverse bar into two pieces having opposedrounded ends and giving smooth access to the uppermost slot, and, beingfurther provided in a side substantially at the top of the lowermostslot, with an opening giving smooth access to the lowermost slot anddividing the buckle into an upper section through and upon which thestrap may be looped and interlaced and a lower section in the form of ahook-like member adapted to detachable engagement with the formed straploop.

13. The structure recited in claim 12 characterized in that theintermediate slot is closed.

14. The structure recited in claim 1 characterized in that the firstmentioned opening is formed substantially in the center of the top ofthe buckle and divides the uppermost transverse bar thereof into twopieces having opposed convexly rounded ends and thereby gives smoothaccess to the uppermost slot from above; and further characterized inthat the intermediate slot is closed.

15. In a strap fastening combination a buckle, as recited in claim 1, astrap which is adapted to be so drawn through and engaged with saidbuckle that it is looped about the third bar from the top thereof,folded back upon itself into doubleply and arranged, in double-ply, toone side of the second from the top of said transverse bars, and, indouble-ply, to an opposite side of the uppermost of said transversebars, and a formed strap loop into which the lowermost transverse bar ofthe buckle and the mentioned upstanding portion of-the side bar may beintroduced for detachable engagement of said loop with said buckle inthe lowermost slot thereof.

WILLIAM ROSENTHAL.

